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Barnesville Wins Class AA Football Championship with 35-20 Win Over Chatfield

By MSHSL PRESS RELEASE, 12/03/22, 1:15AM CST

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In 2018, Barnesville was the Class AA runner-up to longstanding power, Caledonia. At that time, middle-school football players from Barnesville experienced the thrill of watching the Prep Bowl from the stands or sideline of U.S. Bank Stadium. Dreams of a return to a championship game fueled those players in hopes of ending their prep careers on a high note.

Fast forward five seasons and it was mission accomplished.

“It feels pretty awesome waking up knowing we are state champions,” commented Barnesville Head Coach Bryan Strand.  “This group had set this in their mind last year after losing to Chatfield in the semi-finals and have worked 12 months to make sure the same didn't happen this year.  Such a dedicated group with so many working parts that make the group whole and complete.  It's hard to put into words what this means for myself, the kids or even the community.  This town supports this football team like no other, the kids work their butts off 12 months a year to get ready for the football season, we are at a point where year in and year out the boys just go out there and work hard every night and every day.  Makes me very, very proud.”

The Trojans completed a season of dominance with a 35-20 victory over Chatfield in the Class AA championship on Friday, Dec. 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Senior tight end Tate Inniger, an imposing figure at 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, scored four touchdowns to propel Barnesville (13-0) to its first-ever state championship in three title-game appearances. Barnesville rushed for 235 yards and perfectly-timed passing accounted for three touchdowns as the Trojans derailed Chatfield (12-1) from repeating as the Class AA champion. In 2021, Chatfield defeated Barnesville 22-18 in the semifinal en route to its championship.

Inniger had three receptions, all for touchdowns. For good measure, he also capped the Trojans’ victory on a 1-yard run with 4 minutes, 14 seconds left in regulation. He even got involved in the passing game with a completion of 12 yards. Afterward, he was recognized with the Wells Fargo Most Valuable Teammate Award, an honor that goes to a player displays excellence in sportsmanship and leadership.

Barnesville junior quarterback Zach Bredman directed the offensive attack, rushing for 53 yards and completing 4 of 5 passes for 57 yards. Three of those four pass completions were to Inniger. Barnesville stretched its lead to 29-14 on Bredman’s third touchdown pass to Inniger. This one came on a 9-yard strike with 1:07 left in the third quarter.

Chatfield answered on a 1-yard run by senior running back Sam Backer that drew the Gophers to within 29-20 with 9:92 left. That just set the stage for Inniger’s final TD.

Barnesville built a 23-14 halftime advantage, in part behind two touchdown passes from junior Zachary Bredman to senior tight end Tate Inniger. The second was a 28-yard connection with 1:13 left in the second quarter that gave the Trojans a 23-8 lead.

But Chatfield pulled to within nine just more than a minute later on a 17-yard run by senior quarterback Sam Backer, but the Gophers could inch no closer as the two-point conversion attempt fell inches short.

Backer led the way for Chatfield in the first half, rushing for 95 yards on 15 carries. He also completed 5 of 10 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice. He finished with 182 yards rushing on 28 carries. While he threw for a touchdown, he was also intercepted four times.

Senior fullback John Roller paced the Trojans running game in the first half with 56 yards and finished with 103.

The 20 points were the most that Barnesville had surrendered to any opponent during the 2022 season. Entering the Prep Bowl, the Trojans’ defense ranked among the stingiest in Minnesota in surrendering an average of about four points per game.

Strand concluded with these comments, "Zachary Bredman made such strides this year and really put the offense on his back the past 4 weeks.  Tate Inniger had the game of his life, catching 3 TD passes, rushing another and almost throwing for one as well, that pass led to his rushing TD.  He was also honored as our Best Teammate at the game.  Tate went out on top and it was tremendous to see.  We have 17 seniors and all play a role in this team and have been instrumental for this group to be where they are, state champions.  

"Sam Backer is a special kid that is very talented, he put that team (Chatfield) on his back Friday and did a great job.  They lost their best WR in #2 Cole Johnson was hurt early in the game and didn't play at all in the second half, that limited them a bit.  He is a 6'3 target and very good.  The biggest difference in the game is that we took it away from the 5 times, 4 interceptions and one fumble recovery.  Owen Riddle had two outstanding interceptions, Gannon Bolgrean may have had the interception of the game in the end zone and early in the game Ethan Larson stepped in front of a Backer pass.  Seems strange to say but everyone just kind of did their job and played very good team defense and the offense did what they do and just march the ball down the field."

Jonny Robideau was selected to play in this years all star game this coming weekend at US Bank stadium, the game is Saturday at 6:00.